Slider for sliding fasteners



Dec. 21, 1948.

- E ENGEL SLIDER FOR SLIDING FASTENERS 3 SheetsS1'2eet 1 Filed April 13, 1943 FIG. 2.

Ms Attorney Dec. 21, 1948. ENGEL 2,456,822

SLIDER FOR SLIDING FASTENERS Filed April 13, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A"; Attorney Dec. 21, 1948. E. ENGEL 2,456,822

SLIDER FOR SLIDING FASTENERS Filed April 13, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor Eric. \E/YGEL 2 "I: Attorney Patented Dec. 21, 1948 SLIDER FOB SLIDING FASTENERS Erich Engel, Tonteg, near Pontypridd, England. assignor to Aero Zipp Fasteners Limited, London, England, a British company Application April 13, 1943, Serial No. 482,835 In Great Britain January 25, 1943 14 Claims.

The present invention relates to sliders for sliding fasteners and more particularly to sliders for zip fasteners.

In many cases objectionable wear is likely to occur on a slider in ordinary use. For example, when a metallic slider made by casting is employed in a covered zip fastener of the known type in which the fastening members are covered by strips ofa fabric to improve the appearance of the fastener, it has been observed that the covering strips soon become soiled owing to the fact that the metal of which the cast slider is made is too soft to withstand the abrasive actiori of the covering strips on the adjacent inner surface of the slider when the slider is operated. An objectionable wear is also likely to occur, when a slider made of artificial resinous, cellulosic, or similar plastic material is used, particularly in connection with a covered zip fastener. It is another object of the present invention to overcome these drawbacks.

It is another object of the invention to provide new means for attaching a pull member to the slider in such a way that the front plate of the slider may be made substantially flat.

It is a further object of the invention to provide simple means for covering the back of the slider by a fabric or the like material to prevent contact between the back of the slider and either an article lying beneath the slider or the body of'the wearer of a garment to which the fastener is attached.

It is still another object of the invention to provide means for preventing the material of an article to which the fastener is attached or on which the fastener lies when in use from becoming caught between the interlocking fastening members. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the subjoined detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a general view of a zip fastener having a slider constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section along the line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective exploded view of the front and rear wings and the intermediate plate of the slider of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4' is a perspective view of a modified plate;

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a vertical and horizontal sectional view respectively of the slider,

shown in Fig. 1;

.Fig'. '7 is a perspective view of a slider in accordance with this invention without a yoke as ze-zoam normally provided for attaching a pull member;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a modified construction of a slider without a yoke;

Fig. 9 shows the pull member of the slider of Fig. 8 in different positions;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a further modiflcation of the slider;

Fig. 11 illustrates a still further modification of a slider without yoke;

Fig. 12 is a perspective exploded view of the slider shown in Fig. 11;

Fig. 12a shows in a perspective exploded manner the pull member and the intermediate insert plate separated from each other of the slider shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 13 illustrates a sectional view of a slider having an insert protruding at either side of the adjacent wing beyond the wing and forming a loop outside the slider;

Fig. 14 illustrates a further modification of a slider according to the invention;

Fig. 15 is a perspective exploded view of the front and rear wings, the intermediate insert plate, and a second insert of the slider shown in Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 illustrates another slider, in which the insert is arranged adjacent the rear wing of the slider;

Fig. 17 is a perspective exploded view of the front and rear wings and the intermediate insert plate of the slider of Fig. 16.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 3, the zip fastener is a common form of a covered fastener having two tapes i and 2 with fastening members 3 attached thereto in uniformly spaced relation. The fastening members 3 are covered by strips 4 and 5 of a fabric which are attached to the tape I and 2 respectively in known manner. For interlocking and releasing the members 3, and thus for closing and opening the fastener, a slider generally denoted by numeral 6 is provided having a yoke I for attaching a pull member 8 to actuate the slider. The slider 6 comprises a body of usual shape, having opposed parallel wings I! and I3 connected at one end by a. substantially triangularly shaped neck portion I 4. The front wing l3 has inturned flanges i5, and the rear wing I2 has inturned flanges ii. To prevent wear between the front wing l3 and the covering strips 4 and 5 a substantially Y-shaped insert or plate iii of wear resisting material is provided so as to cover substantially the entire inner surface of the front wing iii of the slider. Preferably, the plate It consists of wear resisting sheet metal. It may be loosely inserted into assaults I v 3 the slider before the fastener. When the slider is'att-ached to the fastener. the plate i6 is held in position by the fastening members 3 and the covering strips 3 and B preventing it in co-operation with the flanges H from slipping sideways out of the slider, while the neck portion i4 prevents the plate from leaving the slider at its top, and the shape of the plate It and the flanges i! of the wing l3 prevent the plate from leaving the slider at its bottom. If desired, the plate It may be slightly bent as shown in Fig. 4 at 28, 2d and 25 to anchor it more securely in the slider, and the plate it may be fixed to the front wing it. for example by soldering along 'its edges 2!, 22 and 23 (see Figs. 5 and 6).

According to other embodiments of the invention, as shown for example in Figs. 7-l5 to be described hereinafter, the provision of the in-, sert makes it possible to dispense with a yoke for attaching a pull member and to hold the pull member by means of the plate. whereby the manufacture of the; slider, particularly when made of plastic material is simplified and the slider may be given a reduced overall thickness. In the use of sliding clasp fasteners, for eX-' slider is attached to the ample, in plackets of women's dresses and in mens trousers it has been found that the usual type of sliders with an upwardly projecting yoke causes difficulties in pressing the garments. The yoke will press into the garments and make the locationof the slider apparent, even though it is concealed behind a flap.

According to the embodiment of a slider without a yoke as shown in Fig. 7, a front wing and a rear wing ii are connected in the usual way by or at a neck portion 32. The plate 34, which again may consist of wear resisting material, for example of sheet metal, is bent at its end adjacent the neck 32 so as to form lugs 34 and 35 to which a pull member 36 is hinged.

The pull member 36 is given a. shape soas to Y surround the front wing 30 of the slider laterally in its rest position. To operate the slider. the pull member 36 is gripped and raised to actuate the slider. The pull member 36 is provided with projections 31 adapted to engage, in its rest position, between adjacent fastening members of a non-covered zip fastener or to press on a covering tape of a covered zip fastener in order to lock the slider against unintentional movement. The pull member 36 may be made of sufllciently stifl' flexible material such as wire or leather or the like. It may, of course, assume many other suitable shapes different from the specific shape illustrated.

The slider illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 comprises a front wing 4| and a rear wing 40 connected by or at a neck portion 42 of the same construction as the neck portion i4 shown in Fig. 3. The front wing 4| is provided with two grooves 43, 44 which are covered by a plate 45, thus forming two conduits through which a wire, band, string, or the like flexible material 46 is threaded, which serves as a pull member. The

wire or the like 45 is provided with beads 41, 48

. 46' as indicated in Fig. 9 and then moves the slider in the direction of closing the fastener.

To open the fastener, the bead 4'! is pulled,

whereupon the wire or the like 48 first assumes .4 the tion 44" and then moves the slider in the direction of opening the fastener.

In the slider illustrated in Fig. 10, the front wing B0 and the rear wing ii are connected by or at a neck portion 53 of the same construction as the neck portion l4 shown in Fig. 3. A plate 4% is provided with upturned lugs ,protruding through corresponding openings in the front wing I, the pull member 58 being hinged to the lugs 85. While in this embodiment the front surface of the slider formed by the front wing ill, the lugs 6'; and the pull member 58" is not completely flat, yet the overall thickness of the slider is considerably reduced in comparison with ,an'

ordinary slider having a yoke for attaching the pull member.

Still another embodiment of a slider without a yoke is illustrated in Figs. 11, 12 and 12a. In this embodiment the front wing 60 and the rear wing ll are connected by a neck portion 62. A substantially Y-shaped plate 84 recessed at I0 and I0 lies adjacent the inner surface of the wing 60. The wing 60 is recessed at and the plate is provided with a groove 66 for loosely receiving a transverse rod it! of a pull member I, said transverse rod I61 being held in the groove 88 by the covering strips of a zip fastener (for example covering strips 4 and 5 as shown in Fig. 1) when the slider has been threaded onto such a zip fastener. The pull member 61 has two projections 69 and 68', for pressing against the covering strips and the fastening members (for example covering strips 4 and 5 and fastening members 3 as shown in Fig. 1 of the zip fastener to lock the slider against unintentional movement when the pull member lies flat is illustrated in Fig. 11. To operate the slider the gripping means 68 attached to the pull member 61 is raised and pulled. Thereby the pull member 01 is first raised whereby the slider is released from its locked position and the slider side the slider the insert is folded back to form a loop 14 serving as a pull member. The insert II is held in position by the neck portion of the slider which extends through a corresponding hole in the insert.

The slider illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15 isprovided with an insert of flexible material such as fabric, leather or the like which protrudes from the slider at either end. The insert is held in position by the neck portion 84 extending through a hole 85 in the insert 80. The insert has free ends 8| and 82 serving as pull members for closing and opening the fastener respectively. A second insert 83 formed by a Y-shaped metal plate is provided to prevent wear between the fastener and the first insert 80.

In the slider shown in Figs. 16 and 1'7 the insert lying adjacent the rear wing 96 is made of sheet metal and protrudes beyond the upper end 81 of the rear wing 98, the protruding part 94 being slightly bent upwards towards the front. The part 84 serves to prevent any material to which the zip fastener is attached or on which it lies from being caught between the fastening members.

It should be understood that the drawings are given by way of example only and that many modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of this invention.

I claim:

1. A slider for a sliding fastener comprising two wings, each with inturned flanges, connected at a neck portion, and at least one substantially Y-shaped insert arranged adjacent the inner surface of one of said wings so as to lie between the inner surface of said wing and the fastener when the slider is attached to the fastener.

2. A slider for a sliding fastener comprising two wings, each with inturned flanges, connected at a neck portion, and at least one substantially Y-shaped insert covering substantially the entire inner surface of one of said wings to prevent any contact between said surface and the fastener when the slider is attached to the fastener.

3. A slider for a sliding fastener comprising two wings connected at a neck portion, flanges on said wings, and at least one insert plate-adapted to cover at least part of the inner surface of one of said wings, said insert plate being loosely inserted into the slider and so shaped as to be held immovably in position by said flanges and the fastener when the slider is attached thereto, to prevent any contact between said part of the inner wing surface and the fastener.

4. A-slider for a sliding fastener comprising two wings, each with inturned flanges, connected at a neck portion, and a substantially Y-shaped insert plate shaped so as to cover at least a substantial portion of the inner surface of one of said wings, said insert plate being arranged adjacent the inner surface of one of said wings, the ends of said insert protruding beyond the edges of said wing. and said protruding ends of the insert being bent for abutting cooperation with the edges of said wing so as to be held in position by said edges of the wing when the slider attached to the fastener is displaced relative to the latter.

5. A slider for a sliding fastener comprising two wings connected at a neck portion, an insert made of a wear resisting material and arranged adjacent the inner surface of one of said wings, a yoke arranged on the outer surface of one of said wings, a pull member connected with said yoke, and flanges arranged on one of said wings and engaged with said insert so as to hold same in position when the slider attached to the fastener is displaced relative to the latter.

6. A slider for a sliding fastener comprising a front wing and a rear wing connected at a neck portion, an insert made of a wear resisting material and arranged adjacent the inner surface of said front wing, a yoke arranged on the outer surface of said front wing, a pull member connected with said yoke, and flanges arranged on said front wing and engaged with said insert so as to hold same in position when the slider attached to the fastener is displaced relative to the latter. Y

7. A slider for a sliding fastener comprising a front wing and a rear wing connected at a neck portion, a substantially Y-shaped insert plate arranged adjacent the inner surface of said rear wing, an end of said insert plate protruding beyond said rear wing in the region of the neck portion, said protruding end being slightly bent towards said front wing in order to substantially prevent foreign matter from being caught between the fastening members of the fastener when the slider is attached thereto, a yoke arranged on the outer surface of said front wine. a pull member with said m and flanges arranged on said rear wing and engaged with said insert plate so as to hold same in position when the slider attached to the fastener is displaced relative to the latter.

8. A slider for a sliding fastener comprising two wings, each with inturned flanges, connected at a neck portion, at least one substantially Y- shaped insert arranged adjacent the inner surface of one of said wings, and a pull member for actuating the slider, said pull member being at-' tached to said slider by means of said insert.

9. A slider for a sliding fastener comprising two wings connected at a neck portion. at least one insert arranged adjacent the inner surface of one of said slider wings and protruding beyond said wing, the protruding end of said insert forming a pull member for actuating the slider.

10. A slider for a sliding fastener comprising two wings connected at a neck portion, at least one insert arranged adjacent the inner surface of one of said wings, a pull member for actuating the slider, and means provided on said insert for attaching said pull member.

11. A slider for a sliding fastener comprising two wings connected at a neck portion, at least one insert arranged adjacent the inner surface of one of said wings and protruding in the region of the neck portion beyond said wing, a pull member for actuating the slider, and means.

provided on the protruding part of said insert for pivotally connecting said pull member to said insert.

12. A slider for a sliding fastener comprising two wings connected at a neck portion, at least one insert arranged adjacent the inner surface of one of said wings, a pull member for actuating the slider, and means provided on the insert and protruding through a recess in said wing for pivotally connecting said pull member to said insert.

stantially any contact between said surface and,

the fastener when the slider is "attached to the fastener, said insert being made of flexible material, at least one end of said insert protrudingmember.

beyond said wing to form a pull ERICH ENGEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Switzerland Nb. 1, 1982 

